FINAL GRADE PROCEDURE
FINAL GRADE PROCEDURE
1.0 DEFINITIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS DOCUMENT
1.1 Capitalized words and phrases used in this procedure and not otherwise defined here have the meanings assigned to them in the Graduate Final Grade Policy (PL-ST-08).
1.2 The following words and expressions are specific to this document and shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them:
1.2.1 Final Grade Roster: A place where Final Grades are recorded for each Student enrolled in a Course.
1.2.2 Grade Point: A numerical value assigned to a letter grade.
1.2.3 Semester GPA: The grade point average calculated using all applicable Courses in a term.
1.3 Where the context requires, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa.
1.4 Where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings.
2.0 PURPOSE
2.1 To support the implementation of the Graduate Final Grade Policy (PL-ST-08). The following procedures are to be read in conjunction with the aforementioned policy.
3.0 PROCEDURE
3.1 Final Grade Submission
3.1.1 Academic Members submit Final Grades to the Admissions and Registration Directorate according to the deadline specified in the Academic Calendar.
3.1.2 The Admissions and Registration Directorate verifies and validates that all Final Grades have been submitted.
3.1.3 The Admissions and Registration Directorate posts all Final Grades to the Final Grade Rosters after the deadline for Academic Members to submit Final Grades as identified in the Academic Calendar.
3.1.4 Final Grades are not official until posted by the Admissions and Registration Directorate to the Final Grade Rosters. Academic Members must not inform Students of any Final Grades by any means.
3.1.5 The Admissions and Registration Directorate updates the Academic Standing for each Student.
3.1.6 Final Grades appear on a Student’s Transcript in the form of a letter grade.
3.2 Delay in Final Grade Submission
3.2.1 In the event that Final Grades are not submitted by the Academic Member by the deadline specified in the Academic Calendar, a Final Grade of NS (Grade Not Submitted) is posted by the Admissions and Registration Directorate.
3.2.2 An NS Final Grade must be cleared by the end of the third week after the beginning of the subsequent Semester. If an NS Final Grade is not cleared by this date, Students will receive a Final Grade of F (Fail) for the Course.
3.2.3 An NS Final Grade is not included in the Student’s GPA calculation.
3.3 In Progress Grades
3.3.1 Certain Courses, including thesis, research, and practicums, can continue beyond the normal Semester.
3.3.2 Students who are unable to complete the Final Grade Components for these Courses within the Semester should be assigned a Final Grade of IP (In Progress).
3.3.3 Where a Final Grade of IP has been assigned, Students are required to reenroll in the Course in the subsequent Semester and the IP grade remains on the Transcript.
3.3.4 An IP Final Grade in not included in the Student’s GPA calculation.
3.4 Incomplete Grades
3.4.1 A Final Grade of IN (Incomplete) is assigned by the Academic Member when the Final Grade Components for the Course are not completed by the Student. An IN must normally be cleared by the end of the third week of the subsequent Semester. If an IN Final Grade is not cleared by this date, Students will receive a failing grade in the Course.
3.4.2 An IN Final Grade is not included in the Student’s GPA calculation.
3.5 Deferred Examinations
3.5.1 The Deferred Examination is the Final Examination for the Student.
3.5.2 There are no deferrals of Deferred Exams.
3.5.3 Deferred exams are to be completed during the first week of the subsequent Semester as per the dates specified in the Academic Calendar.
3.5.4 A request for Deferred Examination must be submitted to the Academic Unit prior to or as soon as possible after the date on which the regular examination was scheduled.
3.5.5 The request for Deferred Examination will be assessed by the Academic Unit in consultation with the Academic Member for the Course.
3.5.6 Approved applications for Deferred Examinations are forwarded by the Department Head to the Admissions and Registration Directorate for processing.
3.5.7 Students who are approved to write a Deferred Examination are temporarily assigned a Final Grade of AB (Absent) for the Course until the Deferred Examination is completed and a Final Grade is assigned.
3.5.8 All grade changes for Deferred Examinations and updates to Academic Standing are processed by the Admissions and Registration Directorate as soon as they are received from the Department Head but no later than the third day of classes of the subsequent Semester.
3.5.9 An AB Final Grade is not included in the Student’s GPA Calculation.
3.6 Fail Grade for Absenteeism
3.6.1 The Admissions and Registration Directorate will inform the Academic Members which Students have failed the Course by exceeding the 15% maximum allowable limit for absenteeism from Learning Sessions per Course during a Semester. Academic Members must assign an Attendance Fail (AF) Final Grade to Students who fail the Course for exceeding this maximum allowable limit.
3.6.2 In extenuating and unforeseeable circumstances, Students who exceed the maximum allowable limit for absenteeism can petition the Attendance Fail (AF) Final Grade to the Department Head at the conclusion of the Semester with the recommendation going to the Dean for final approval. Careful consideration will be given to the extenuating nature of the circumstance and when the absenteeism occurred in the Semester. Successful petitions will result in the Student being Withdrawn from the Course and a Final Grade of a W assigned and entered on the Transcript.
3.7 Course Repetition
3.7.1 Only Courses with a Final Grade of D+ or lower can be repeated.
3.7.2 A Course may be repeated a maximum of two (2) times.
3.7.3 Students who fail a Course two (2) times must obtain the approval of their
Academic Advisor before registering in the Course for the 3rd time. Space
limitations and other considerations will determine approval.
3.7.4 Final Grades for all attempts of a Course appear on the official Transcript.
3.7.5 Only the highest Final Grade obtained from all attempts will be used in the calculation of the Cumulative GPA.
3.7.6 Students seeking to repeat a deactivated Course for which there exists an
equivalent Course that does not use the same Course ID (same subject and
number) as the original Course, must obtain approval for the Course repetition
and Final Grade replacement from the Department Head / Program Head.
3.8 Dropped or Withdrawn Courses
3.8.1 Students have the opportunity to Add and/or Drop Courses anytime during the Registration Period and until the end of the Add/Drop Period. No Final Grade is assigned to a Dropped Course. The Dropped Course will not appear on the Student’s Transcript.
3.8.2 Students who Withdraw from a Course within the Withdrawal Period are assigned a Final Grade of W (Withdrawn) which is entered on the Transcript to indicate an official withdrawal has taken place. No academic prejudice will apply.
3.8.3 A Final Grade of W will not be included in the Student’s GPA calculation.
3.9 Audited Course
3.9.1 As per the Registration Policy (PL-ST-09), Students who have been granted an approval by the Academic Unit to Audit a Course are assigned a Final Grade of AU (Audited Course).
3.9.2 A Final Grade of AU is not included in the Student’s GPA calculation.
3.10 Exemption from Course
3.10.1 Students who have been granted an exemption from a Course through a Challenge Examination, Transfer Credit, or prior learning and recognition (PLAR) are assigned a Final Grade of EN (Exemption from Course).
3.10.2 A Final Grade of EN is not included in the Student’s GPA calculation.
3.11 Release of Final Grades
3.11.1 Final Grades will be released to Students at the end of each Semester after all Final Grades have been verified and validated by the Admissions and Registration Directorate.
3.12 Audit of the Final Grade
3.12.1 Students have the right to be fully informed about the grading policies used in each Course.
3.12.2 Students who feel that they have received an erroneous or unfair Final Grade may request an audit of the Final Grade by the Academic Member teaching the Course.
3.12.3 If the discussion with the Academic Member does not result in a satisfactory resolution, the Student may request that the matter be reviewed by the Department Head / Program Head before the Change of Grade deadline.
3.12.4 If the Student is not satisfied with the decision from the Department Head, Program Head the request may be escalated to the Dean of the Academic Unit for a final decision before the Change of Grade deadline.
3.13 Change of Grade
3.13.1 Final Grades may be changed only at the request of the Academic Member delivering the Course, with the approval of the Dean / Academic Manager.
3.13.2 Any changes to Final Grades, other than as specified above, are to be submitted by the Academic Unit to the Admissions and Registration Directorate within four (4) weeks after the release of Final Grades.
3.13.3 Any requests for changes to Final Grades outside of this timeframe must be approved by the Vice-President, Academics.
3.14 Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation
3.14.1 A grade point average (GPA) is a weighted average calculated using Grade Points earned and Credit values of Courses attempted and is used to measure a Student’s academic performance.
3.14.2 GPA is calculated using the following:
3.14.2.1 The Final Grade for each Course is associated with a Grade Point value.
3.14.2.2 Total Grade Points earned per Course is determined by multiplying the Credit value of each Course by the Grade Points associated with each Final Grade received: i.e. Credits x Grade Points (per Course)
3.14.2.3 GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of Grade Points earned by the total number of Credits attempted: i.e. Total Grade Points Earned / Total Credits Attempted
3.14.3 A GPA can range from 0.00 to 4.00.
3.14.4 Semester GPA is calculated by dividing the sum of all Grade Points achieved in a Semester by the sum of all Credits attempted in that Semester. Semester GPA appears on the Student’s Transcript.
3.14.5 Cumulative GPA is calculated by dividing the sum of all Grade Points achieved in a Program by the sum of all Credits attempted in that Program. Cumulative GPA appears on the Student’s Transcript.
3.14.6 Courses receiving a non-calculable Final Grade are included on the Transcript but they are not included in the Cumulative GPA calculation.
4.0 Related Documents
PL-ST-02: Academic Schedule Policy
PL-ST-03: Student Attendance Policy
PL-ST-05: Academic Standing Policy
PL-ST-06: Transfer Policy
PL-ST-07: Admissions Policy
PL-ST-08: Final Grade Policy
PL-ST-09: Registration Policy
PL-AC-07: Examination Policy